The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-03-26
LIFE IN BIG CITIES.
Bome OF the Queer Ups and Downs Among
Now York's working People.

Now York's Working People.
II is often said that hundreds Of men
walk the streets of New York seeking
work and unable to find It. The most
prominent employment broker in town
said the other night that this was en-
tirely untrue.
II can givo every man work." he
said, though II may not be the kind he
desires or IL fitted for. have dozen
of restaurants and hotels to supply and
there are always some vacancies. This
mornings papers announced the sui
cides of tn rec men who became desper-
ate because they could not get work.
If they had been willing to take tho
first thing that came along they'd been
all right. No man need starve."
'.How low do wages rum"
II sent three men to work rs porters
to-day for two dollars a week. includ-
ing luncheons. You stare. OF course
two dollars is nothing to us but the
man who won't work for that much
and six square meals week will have
to struggle in New York. No matter
how small the wages, you can always
get men to accept them, but you can
not always get q man who has held a
high position to accept them, but you
can not always get man who has held
II high position to accept a lower one.
They will sometimes starve to death
first. mean this literally. They will
undergo the awful horrors of starvation
before they will throw away their
pride. 1t is the ruling spirit, you know.
The other day the doctors told n big
Wall street operator that he had only
few hours to live. He called for his
brokers at once and arranged for selling
out his stock. Can you imagine man
thinking Of the stock market on the
very verge of deathp Well, the same
principles apply to paupers. They
starve to death at times before they
will consent to compete with the labor
ing man."
1t reminded me Of u quiet and respect
ful-looking man who came up beside
me night or two ago as 1 stood wait
ing for car on Upper Broadway.
II beg yer pawding, SIR" he said,
touching his hat and bowing slightly;
''but tn fact is I'm quite done up with
fatigue and hunger"
'When did you landp"
1.-Two weeks since, sir, and I've not
had decent night nor a full meal
once. I'm gentleman's servant, you
know, sir, but there seems to be no de-
mand for me at all. I thought New
York was veritable Ell Dorado, but I
find it's the most impossible place in the
world
Cant you get works'
II can not get service, sir, and that 8
all I'm fitted for.''
"Why don't you take whatever you
can getp''
"O." he said with an indescribably
shocked air, II couldn't do that, you
know"
looked him over. He was neat.
quiet and Intelligent. His face was
drawn down and pinched by hunger.
and he was white as a ghost. The man
was undoubtedly suffering greatly, but
he could not forget that he had been "a
gentleman's servant"
There is a big demand for such men
here now, as the custom OF keeping a
man servant has spread very rapidly of
late. Men here are not accompanied by
their Wallets as they are in Europe, but
they employ them none the less.
my man." a genial old clubman said
the other day, sis about the most valu-
able. of my possessions. He's Scotch
lad .whem picked up as astowaway on
steamer coming over four years ago.
Before had him / was pie for every
washwoman and shopkeeper in New
York. My linen disappeared with .amaz-
ing rapidity. Myhoots walked off mys.
teriously and my tailors' bills were
heart-breaking- Now 1 have every thing
need, never know what it is to he out
of any article of apparel, and am hap
pier than I was as boy. My man
shaves ne-thereby saving me about
$75 ayear- dresses me, hnys every thing
wear, answers all my invitations, keeps
II record of all my engagements, runs
all errands, makes my bank deposits
and collects rents and does the work of
half dozen men without seeming to
know it. 1t is the small yexatio1s of
life that tell on men and get rid of
them all by employing well-trained
servant"
''What does he eost?" asked lis
tener, with a leaning towards economy.
His wages are fixed at forty dollars
u month, and 1 allow him q similar
amount for his board and clothes.'
1t is difficult to keep good man long
in New York, for they are usually
shrewd and soon venture into business.
One of the most popular and successful
shoemakers in New York City was once
personal servant to Sir Arthur Sulli-
van. He has staff of underlings to
wait ON his customers while he sits like
"a naughty banker at desk and bullies
his cashier. Another ex-valet runs
what he calls "haberdasherie''-
being the Anglicized version of the
plebeian "gents' furnishing goods
store" He was in the service of one
of the younger Vanderbilts some years
ago. it is said, and when he retired his
master gave him enough money to start
himself in business He has an income
of about $4,000 year. There arc
some queer ups and downs among the
working people of New York.-Blakely